PAP 



PAP 



Tt belongs to the class anJ order Pohjandria 

 Monogijnia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 JUmeadece. 



The characters are: that the calvx is a two- 

 leaved perianthiinn, ovate, cmartiinate : leaflets 

 siihovate, concave, obtuse, caducous : the corolla 

 has four roundish petals, flat, spreading, large, 

 narrower at the base ; alternately less : the sta- 

 mina have numerous filaments, capillary, much 

 shorter than the corolla: anthers oblong, com- 

 pressed, erect, obtuse : the pistilluin has a round- 

 ish, large germ : style none : stigma peltrte, flat, 

 radiate : the pericarpium is a crowned capsule, 

 with the large stigma, one-celled, half-many- 

 celled, opening by many holes at the top under 

 the crown : the seeds numerous, very small : 

 receptacles, longitudinal plaits, the same num- 

 ber with the rays of the stigma, fastened to the 

 wall of the pericarpium. 



The species cultivated are : I . P. snmnijentm, 

 White Poppy ; 2. P. Rlioeas, Corn or Red Poppy ; 

 3. P. Camiric7im, Welsh Poppy ; 4. P. Ori- 

 entale, Oriental Poppy. 



The first has the stalks large, smooth, five or 

 six feet high, branching : the leaves large, grayish, 

 embracing at the base, irregularly jagged on their 

 sides : the flowers terminating, whilst inclosed 

 in the calyx hanging down, but before the co- 

 rolla expands becoming erect : the calyx is com- 

 posed of two large oval grayish leaves, that se- 

 parate and soon drop off: the corolla is com- 

 posed of four large, roundish, white petals, of 

 short duration; and succeeded by large roundish 

 heads as big as Oranges, flatted at top and bot- 

 tom, and having an indented crown or stigma : 

 the seeds are white. It is a native of the south- 

 ern parts of Europe, hut probably originally from 

 Asia. 



There are several varieties, differing in the 

 colour and multiplicity of their petals, which 

 are preserved in gardens for ornament : the 

 Single-flnwered sort is chiefly cultivated for use. 



The Common Black variety of Poppy has 

 stalks about three feet high, smooth, and divid- 

 ing into several branches : the leaves are large, 

 smooth, deeply cut or jagged on their edges, 

 and embracing: the petals purple v.'ith dark 

 bottoms ; succeeded by oval smooth capsules 

 filled with black seeds, which are sold under the 

 name of Maw-seed. 



Of this there are many sub-varieties: as with 

 large double flowers, variegated of se^■eral colours; 

 with red and white, purple and white, and some 

 finely spotted like Carnations. 



There are few plants whose flo'.'.ers are so 

 handsome ; but as they have an offensive scent, 

 and are of short duration, they are not in ge- 



neral much regarded : they are annual, flower- 

 ing in June. 



The second species has the stem from one. 

 to two feet high, upright, round, branched, 

 purplish at bottom, with spreading hairs, bul- 

 bose at the base : the leaves are sessile, forming- 

 a kind of sh.cath at bottom, hairy on both sides ;. 

 the segments or leaflets unequally tool lied or ser- 

 rate, each tooth rolled back at the edge, callous- 

 at top, and terminated by a small spine:"lhe pedun- 

 cles long, round, upright, one-flowered, red, the 

 hairs on it spreading horizontally. It is a native 

 of every part of Europe, &c. flowering IVom June 

 to August. 



There is a variety with an oval black shin- 

 ing spot at the base of each petal, from wliich- 

 many beautiful garden sub-varieties are produced 

 which have double flowers, white, red bordered 

 with white, and variegated. 



In the third the stalks are a foot high, and 

 smooth : the pinnas of the leaves are deeply cut 

 on their edges ; and there are a few small leaves 

 on the stalk shaped like the lower ones :- the up- 

 per part of the stalk is naked, and sustains one 

 large yellow flower, appearing in June; being 

 filled with small purplish seeds. It is a native 

 of Wales, he. 



The fourth species has a perennial root, com- 

 posed of two or three strong fibres as thick as a 

 man's little finger, a foot and a half long, dark 

 brown on the outside, full of a milky juice,, 

 which is very bitter and acrid : the leaves a foot 

 long, closely covered with bristly white hairs : 

 the stems two feet and a half liigh, very rough 

 and hairy, having leaves towards the lower part 

 like the root-leaves, but smaller: the upper part 

 is naked, and sustains- at the top one very large 

 flower, of the same colour with the common 

 red sort. It was found in Armenia, and flowers 

 here in May. 



There are a few varieties, differing in the colour' 

 of the flowers ; and it is said that the flower \i 

 sometimes double, but with us it is always, 

 single. 



Culture. — All the different sorts may be in- 

 creased by seeds, and tlie two last sorts also- 

 by parting and planting out the roots. 



The seeds should he sown in the autumn, or 

 very early in the spring, (but the former is the 

 better season,) either in the places where the 

 plants are to grow, or in beds, to be afterwards 

 planted out. The first is probably the best me- 

 thod, as these plants do not bear removing welL 



When they are cultivated for ornament, seed 

 of thefinest double sorts shouklbe carefully pro- 

 vided and made use of, and be sown in patches.. 



In the practice of Mr. Bull in cultivating the first 



